The festive season is now over and the New Year is already four days old. Rwandans ushered in the New Year with pomp and style marked by fanfare and merry making.

The New Year marks new beginnings.  Most importantly, it comes with new commitments and challenges that need to be confronted head-on as the journey to transform this nation continues. 

This year has a lot in stock for Rwandans.  On the socio-economic front, the fight against poverty must be intensified if we are going to have the majority of our people out of the poverty bracket.

The battle against corruption, disease, injustice, unemployment and genocide ideology must be tightened for our country to keep up the development strides it has so far made.  

Specifically, the year 2010 has plenty on the political plate. This year, the nation will embark on the important exercise of Presidential elections, and we must prepare ourselves for a smooth and successful election.

Fortunately, for the past 15 years, Rwandans have tasted the true dividends of good governance.  The benefits derived from a system that is accountable to its people have raised the hope and expectations of the Rwandan people.  As we prepare for the polls, our people should settle for no less. 

The new decade also renders an opportunity to reflect on how far we have gone in achieving our vision 2020.

With only 10 years remaining, it’s important to re-focus our goals, make adjustments where necessary and re-double our energies where need be, to make sure that we achieve this critical vision.

Ends